Apparatus for covering a paint tray

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for a paint tray cover according to various aspects of the present invention comprise a covering surface that is configured to be positioned over a paint tray to reduce the rate at which any paint contained within a paint tray reservoir dehydrates. The paint tray cover may be configured with one or more conforming sections adapted to receive an object such as a paint application device located within the paint tray.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/530,883, filed Sep. 2, 2011, and incorporates thedisclosure of the application by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Paint and paint application devices are subject to oxidation,dehydration, and contaminants when being used or stored. To avoiddehydration after use, paint is often stored in an air tight containerand paint application devices are cleaned when not in use. During apainting process, there are often instances when the painting process istemporarily interrupted or halted for minutes or hours at a time. Duringthese times it is necessary to protect the unused paint from drying out.A common method is to return the unused paint to its air tight containerand clean the application device. This method may be time consuming andwasteful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for a paint tray cover according to various aspects of thepresent invention comprise a covering surface that is configured to bepositioned over a paint tray to reduce the rate at which any paintcontained within a paint tray reservoir dehydrates. The paint tray covermay be configured with one or more conforming sections adapted toreceive an object such as a paint application device located within thepaint tray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived byreferring to the detailed description when considered in connection withthe following illustrative figures. In the following figures, likereference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout thefigures.

FIG. 1 representatively illustrates a prior art paint tray and paintapplication device;

FIG. 2 representatively illustrates a top view of a cover in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 representatively illustrates a side view of a cover in accordancewith representatively an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 representatively illustrates the cover positioned over a painttray and a paint application device in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 representatively illustrates a top view of the cover positionedover the paint tray and the paint application device in accordance withan exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 representatively illustrates a front view of the cover and thepaint tray in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present invention may be described in terms of functional blockcomponents and various processing steps. Such functional blocks may berealized by any number of components configured to perform the specifiedfunctions and achieve the various results. For example, the presentinvention may employ various types of covers, seals, storage equipmentfor various types of painting materials and the like, which may can outa variety of functions. In addition, the present invention may bepracticed in conjunction with any number of processes such as temporarycovering and protection of a paint tray, the protection and storage ofpaint and paint supplies, and providing a covering to prevent paint fromdrying out, and the system described is merely one exemplary applicationfor the invention. Further, the present invention may employ any numberof conventional techniques for preventing materials from drying out,spilling, providing protection against damage, and/or secure storage.

An apparatus for covering a paint tray according to various aspects ofthe present invention may operate in conjunction with any suitable paintapplication system and/or paint material. Various representativeimplementations of the present invention may be applied to any systemfor covering and storing paint supplies.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cover 200 may comprise any suitable devicefor covering an object having an interior volume. In an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention the cover 200 may be adapted tocover a paint tray 100 to help protect a volume of paint containedwithin a paint well 102 at least partially defined by four side walls110, 112, 114, 116 of the paint tray 100 and/or one or more a paintapplicator tools such as a paint roller 104 from oxidation, dehydration,contaminants such as dust, and/or inadvertent waste of the paint causedby object falling into the paint well 102. The cover 200 may comprise ansuitable device for covering the paint tray 100 such as a lid or a cap.For example, in a representative embodiment, the cover 200 may comprisea body having a substantially rectangular covering surface 202 and asecuring end element 204.

The cover 200 may be comprised of any suitable material or materialssuch as plastic, rubber, metal, cardboard, or the like. Further, thecover 200 may be formed by any suitable method such as by extrusion,molding, or assembled from multiple sections. For example, in oneembodiment, the cover 200 may comprise a polyvinyl chloride or similarthermoplastic polymer molded to form a substantially flat surface. Thematerial used to form the cover 200 may also be suitably adapted toprovide sufficient strength such that the cover 200 can withstand theapplication of weight or similar loading to the covering, surface 202.For example, in one embodiment, the cover 200 may be formed to besubstantially rigid such that when the cover 200 is positioned over thepaint tray 100, the cover 200 may withstand the application of a loadapplied to the covering surface 202 without any permanent and/ortemporary buckling or other similar deformation. Alternatively, thematerial forming the cover 200 may be configured to be semi-rigid andlight weight and may experience some plastic deformation under anapplied load.

The covering surface 202 is adapted to cover the paint tray 100 and anycontents therein such as paint or the paint roller 104. For example,referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, in one embodiment, the covering surface202 may have a top side 304 and a bottom side 302, wherein at least aportion of the bottom side 302 is configured to engage a top edge orsurface of one or more side walls 110, 112, 114, 116 of the paint tray100 to cover and seal an interior portion of the paint tray 100,including the paint well 102, from the ambient air. The covering surface202 may also comprise additional elements suitably adapted to conform toand/or fit around portions of the paint tray 100 and/or paint roller104. For example, referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, in arepresentative embodiment, the covering surface 202 comprise aconforming section 206 and a notch 208.

The cover 200 may also comprise any suitable device or system forselectively coupling the covering surface 202 to the side walls of thepaint tray 100. For example, the bottom side 302 of the covering surfacemay comprise a clip, tab, or clamp that is configured to secure thecovering surface 202 to the paint tray 100.

The conforming section 206 may comprise arty suitable structure ordevice adapted to account for items such as the paint roller 104 thatmay be on or in the paint tray 100 when the cover 200 is positioned overthe paint tray 100. The conforming section 206 may comprise a raised,portion disposed in the covering surface 202. The conforming section 206may be formed integrally with the covering surface 202 as a singleone-piece unit or the conforming section 206 may comprise a separatestructure suitably adapted to be coupled to the covering surface 202.

The conforming section 206 may be formed in any suitable shape or size.The conforming section 206 may be disposed at any suitable location onthe covering surface 202. For example, in one embodiment, the conformingsection 206 may comprise a substantially concave section that risesoutwardly from the top side 304 of the covering surface 202, wherein theconcave section may be oriented substantially perpendicular to acenterline 108 extending between the inclined surface 106 and the paintwell 102 of the paint tray 100. The conforming section 206 may also beof sufficient height to account for a paint roller 104 of up to severalinches in diameter. The conforming section 206 may also be sized toconform to a particular width or length cit paint roller 104 or theconforming section 206 may be configured to receive any number ofdifferent sized paint roller 104 of up to a width of the coveringsurface 202.

The notch 208 may comprise a recessed area, which provides a section inthe cover 100 allowing the paint roller 104 to extend outwardly from thepaint tray 100 through the cover 200 allowing the cover 100 to sitsubstantially flush against an upper surface of the paint tray 100. Thenotch 208 may comprise any suitable element for allowing passage ofstructural elements of the paint roller 104 Referring now to FIGS. 2, 5,and 6, in one embodiment, the notch 208 may comprise an opening in anend portion of the cover 100 and/or the conforming section 206. Theopening may comprise any suitable size or shape. For example, the notch208 may be sized to allow a frame member of the paint roller 104 to fitthrough but not a handle portion of the paint roller 104 thereby helpingto secure the paint roller 104 within the space formed by the cover 100and the paint tray 200.

The cover 200 may also comprise a sidewall portion (not shown) forming alip along one or more edges of the covering surface 202. The sidewallportion may comprise any suitable element for extending one or moresides of the covering surface 202 past the top edge of the paint tray100 when the cover 100 is positioned on the paint tray 100. The sidewallportion may he formed integrally with the covering surface 202 or thesidewall portion may comprise a separate structure suitably adapted tobe coupled to the covering surface 202.

The securing element 204 helps secure the cover 100 to the paint tray200 and may comprise any suitable device or structure. Referring toFIGS. 3, 4, and 6, in one embodiment, the securing element 204 maycomprise and edge piece configured to extend downward from the coveringsurface 202 and engage an edge of the paint tray 100. The securingelement 204 may also comprise a portion of the notch 208. The securing,element 204 may be formed integrally with the covering surface 202forming a single one-piece unit or the securing element 204 may comprisea separate structure suitably adapted to be coupled to the coveringsurface 202.

The particular implementations shown and described are illustrative, ofthe invention and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limitthe scope of the present invention in any way. Indeed, for the sake ofbrevity, conventional manufacturing, connection, preparation, and otherfunctional aspects of the system may not be described in detail.Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures areintended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or stepsbetween the various elements. Many alternative or additional functionalrelationships or physical connections may be present in a practicalsystem.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described withreference to specific exemplary embodiments. Various modifications andchanges may be made, however, without departing from the scope of thepresent invention as set forth in the claims. The specification andfigures are illustrative, rather than restrictive, and modifications areintended to be included within the scope of the present invention.Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by theclaims and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the examplesdescribed.

For example, the steps recited in any method or process claims may beexecuted in any order and are not limited to the specific orderpresented in the claims. Additionally, the components and/or elementsrecited in any apparatus claims may be assembled or otherwiseoperationally configured in a variety of permutations and areaccordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in theclaims.

Benefits, other advantages and solutions to problems have been describedabove with regard to particular embodiments; however, any benefit,advantage, solution to problem or any element that may cause anyparticular benefit, advantage or solution to occur or to become morepronounced are not to be construed as critical, required or essentialfeatures or components of any or all the claims.

As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”,“having”, “including”, “includes” or any variation thereof, are intendedto reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method,article, composition or apparatus that comprises a list of elements doesnot include only those elements recited, but may also include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, composition or apparatus. Other combinations and/ormodifications of the above-described structures, arrangements,applications, proportions, elements, materials or components used in thepractice of the present invention, in addition to those not specificallyrecited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specificenvironments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or otheroperating requirements without departing from the general principles ofthe same.

1. A cover for a paint tray having a paint well, an inclined surfaceadjacent to the paint well, and four side walls, comprising: asubstantially flat covering surface configured to engage an uppersurface of the four side walls; a conforming section extending upwardlyfrom a top side of the covering surface, wherein the conforming sectionis configured to accommodate a paint roller sleeve positioned on theinclined surface of the paint tray when the covering surface is engagingthe upper surface of the four side walls; and a notch disposed along anend portion of the covering surface proximate to the conforming section,wherein the notch is configured to allow a portion of a paint rollerframe member to pass through the covering surface and allow a handleportion of the paint roller to extend outward from the covering surfacewhen the covering surface is engaging the upper surface of the four sidewalls.
 2. A paint tray cover according to claim 1, wherein theconforming section is oriented substantially perpendicular to acenterline ext riding between the inclined surface and the paint well ofthe paint tray.
 3. A paint tray cover according to claim 1, wherein theconforming section comprises a substantially concave protrusionextending outward from the top side of the covering surface.
 4. A painttray cover according to claim 1, further comprising a securing elementdisposed along the end portion of the covering surface, wherein thesecuring element is configured to extend below the upper surface of atleast one of the four side walls.
 5. A paint tray cover according toclaim 4, wherein the securing element extends downward from a bottomside of the covering surface.
 6. A paint tray cover according to claim4, wherein the securing element comprises at least a portion of thenotch.
 7. A paint tray cover according to claim 1, wherein the notch isconfigured to prevent the handle portion of the paint roller frompassing through when the covering surface is engaging the upper surfaceof the four side walls and the frame member is positioned within thenotch.